Merry Christmas

I love Christmas! Not only is it a wonderful time to remember the reason for the season but to look at all the lights. I love to sit and look around the neighborhood or take Kaeden to the living room at night with the lights off and watch the Christmas tree lights a twinkling. With Kevin's mom in town, we headed down to the Bellagio Conservatory to see how it was decorated for Christmas. It was so beautiful!



But it was also very crowded, so we quickly made our circut, and then went around the corner for a look at the chocolate fountain and a giant chocolate covered strawberry. Then we headed out to the front fountain and watched the show, done to Christmas music this time of year. It was chilly, so we then headed home and to bed.



Christmas day was a lovely, relaxing day. Most of the presents we had already given to each other, so we just took our time getting up, watched "A Christmas Story" and any other Christmas-y movies that were on. (Actually, it was a day of Bond, but that's okay by me!) I had a fabulous turkey cooked, homemade mashed potatoes (thanks for the awesome masher, Dad!) and gravy, green beans, olives, rolls, and a huge appetite. It was a great day.

We were sad to see Grandma Christenson leave, but we took her to the airport Friday morning, wishing her well on the rest of her trip visiting family and friends in California. I'm glad she was here to see Kaeden, and enjoy shopping with me! :-)

Kaeden "The Hobbit" Christenson

So, this has been a big week for our little guy. He had his 2 month check up at the doctor's office, here's his stats: 23 inches long, 14 lbs 11 oz and has a 40 1/2 cm dome! He eats between 4 and 6 ounces every 3 hours or so...needless to say, we no longer call him our munchkin but our little Hobbit! :-)

He also had his shots, and Momma accidently snipped his finger while clipping his nails, so the holiday season isn't very happy at the moment...he's been pretty fussy the past two days, but I don't blame him. I would be if I'd had so many people poking and snipping at me, too.

Grandma Christenson (Kevin's mom) is in town for Christmas, and she's just loving being the Grandparent. We went shopping at Macy's yesterday, and as he was sore from his shots, he didn't like to stay in the stroller for long so she would take him on walks around the store. I went around shopping for clothes for Kevin, and would see her occassionally talking to people saying, "This is my grandson, isn't he so cute?! He's the first, and we're so proud of him, it's just such a joy!" I got a great laugh, cuz she was telling anyone who looked in her direction! I'm glad she's enjoying it so much, I felt bad he was so fussy...

Meantime we've been stocking the fridge and our closets, getting lots done shopping wise for the holidays, enjoying the carolers that have been coming by, and laughing at my attempts to make holiday treats and failing miserably. I do try to be domestic, making peanut brittle or caramel corn, but somehow things just go badly. the brittle never made it past the gooey phase, the caramel corn was more like soggy corn and shrank to half it's original size...sigh...

I'm the only person I know who can ruin bread in a bread machine and not get perfect rice from the rice cooker - I don't know why I attempt other things, I must be slightly masochistic. But the tree must have lights, the mantle must have stockings, and the holidays must have treats, so I get in the kitchen and try :-)

Blog Award

You like me, you actually like me... :-)

I have been given my first Blog Award. Jessica Balls, the bestest buddy ever to give the Bloggy (as I have nicknamed it).

For several years friends in Utah (Dani, Kirty) have been telling me to start a blog. I never thought my life was so interesting as to blog every day, or even every week, but I set one up. After only a week I was telling everyone about bloggin, and it has been the best way to keep in touch with everyone as well as keep you posted as to what is happening in our house. I've had a blast putting this together and am glad to hear from everyone that you like looking at my goofy life.

But this is also an award I need to pass on, so here are the other blogs I enjoy reading and give the Bloggy too (in no particular order):

1. Danielle and Tom
2. Kirty and Dan
3. Jessica and Brady (back at ya babe)
4. Anne Marie and Jon
5. Tasha and Nate
6. Heidi and Ken
7. Jdub and Andi

SNOW DAY!!

Several inches of snow in Vegas is a big deal. Yesterday, we had several fall in the valley, so school was officially closed today! I get a whole day to spend with my family, drinking hot chocolate and watching movies! HOORAY FOR SNOW DAY!!

Let It Snow!!

I looked out the window and what did I see?
SNOWFLAKES falling on all the palm trees!
Winter has brought me such a nice surprise
SNOWFLAKES falling right before my eyes!

Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Christmas is one holiday I love to decorate for, and now I have a house to decorate, but few decorations! For the past few years Kevin and I haven't gotten a tree, I just spun lights on my fake tree here in the house and hung stockings. Now we have a family, so I went out and got us a tree, just a little one for my little family, but I got to decorate it with all my ornaments from childhood and wedding. I had fun putting everything together, although it only took 30 minutes from start to finish. But Kaeden helped... The tree is super cute, and the cat is leaving it alone, although he stares at the lights from the chair next to it. Our stockings are up, and I found Kaeden the cutest one with penguins on it. All I'm truly missing is some snow - it just never feels like a real Christmas without snow. Any how, here is what our Christmas looks like... We also had Kaeden blessed this last Sunday. Kevin got all spiffied up and Kaeden had the cutest church clothes, and I snuck in my flip cam. I know cameras are not allowed, but I wanted to keep it for posterity, and didn't have time to write it all down so it's the next best thing. I'm sure He'll understand :-) I'll admit I sat in the back hiding behind Kevin because I do fear a kharmic retribution, but it was worth it. I'm so luck to have such good friends in the church to help us out with this special moment.

Latest Love...

I have a new love in my life - RedBox! It is the greatest invention for those of us who love movies but hate the prices. It is a low-budget wonder! For only a dollar I can catch up on all the movies I have missed. I love to go to the theater, but Kevin isn't into it so much and I'm just lazy about going down to Blockbuster. Then when my brother came down to bring baby furniture he introduced me to RedBox, and I've found my heaven. In fact, I think I've found the heaven of my ward as well, as I have run into several ward members in line at the local Box. If you haven't tried it yet, I encourage you to, it's the best!

Back to School

I feel like I've stepped into a lost episode of "Welcome Back Kotter" (hilarious show by the way!). Yesterday was my first day back to school, and everyone was so excited to see me. The teachers were singing and dancing that they didn't have to help keep my kids under control, and the students were yelling and screaming, well, cuz that's what they do! :-) Not really, but they were on their best behavior and working hard all day yesterday. Today however...apparently the honeymoon period is over already...sigh...

Apparently my kids went through 4 substitutes while I was gone. Bothers me only because then my directions and lesson plans got lost in the shuffle, and NONE of the grading got done. I kid you not, my stack of papers to be graded was atleast 6 inches high! I know substitutes generally don't like to do much, but honestly, if you're taking a position for more than a day or two, grading is part and parcel! The kids are really concerned about their grades, which I'm trying to quickly figure out with all these assignments to grade - but don't worry, I'm not buried in work. I threw out everything except the last 2 weeks - I'll have that graded in a few days and back to the kids. The substitutes should have done their jobs and graded, I can't possible do all that work, so it's triage time. We're starting a new chapter next week, so I'm not looking back and doing my best to count down to Christmas Break! (only 11 school days!)

Kevins' playing Mr. Mom with Kaeden, and he's so happy when I get home cuz apparently I have a Momma's boy, he's fussy for Kevin and great for me. I'm so lucky to have a husband home with him during the day, not having to pay an arm and a leg for daycare. We're having him blessed in church this Sunday, and I have the cutest little outfit for Kaeden to wear - I'm excited. Our good friend Scott Thorne is performing the blessing, with a few other gentlemen who have really reached out to us since we've been in the Ward. Plus, I finally get to get Kevin in a suit! He looks so good all dressed up and now he has a place to go :-)